Ace of the Month: Major James Howard

Major James Howard “ONE MAN AIR FORCE”

Medal of Honour Recipient  9thAF, WWII

On January 11, 1944 Major Howard single-handedly flew his P-51 into some thirty Luftwaffe fighters that were attacking a formation of 8th Air Force B-17 Flying  Fortress bombers over Oschersleben, Germany.

– P-51 Pilot,  “Ding Hao!”

– Commander of the 356th Squadron of the 354nd Fighter Group, 9th Air Force

– P-40 Pilot, Flying Tigers in China/Burma with 6 Air Victories against the Japanese, August 1941-July 1942

– P-51B Pilot, 9th Air Force with 6 Air Victories against the Germans, January 1943-November 1944

– Reporter Andy Rooney called it “the greatest fighter pilot story of World War II”

– Only fighter pilot over Europe awarded the Medal of Honour

– Passed away on December 27, 1998 at the age of 78

BIOGRAPHY:  Major James Howard

James Howard graduated from Pomona College in Claremont, California in 1937. He entered military service in December 1937 as an aviation cadet in the Naval Reserve. He completed training & was rated an ensign in August 1939. He served until June 1941.  He then joined the American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force, known as The Flying Tigers, serving under General Claire L. Chennault from August 1941 to July 1942. He received promotion to squadron leader & destroyed six enemy Japanese fighter planes & shared in the destruction of a bomber. In January 1943, Howard entered active service with the Army Air Force as a pilot with rank of captain & command of the 356th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group in the 9th Air Force in Europe.  He was promoted to major in September 1943, & flew P-51s as cover for heavy bombers. For conspicuous gallantry in combat near Oschersleben, Germany on January 11, 1944, he received the Medal of Honour. He was leading a group of P-51s in support of an 8th AF  heavy bomber formation on a long-range mission deep in enemy territory. General Howard was promoted to lieutenant colonel the following month. He returned home in November 1944, to attend the Third Fighter Gunnery School at Pinellas, Florida & for assignment to HQ 3rd AF at Tampa. He was promoted to colonel on Nov. 25, 1945, & relieved from active duty five days later. He was promoted to   brigadier general March 22, 1948 in the Air Force Reserve. In addition to the nation’s top decoration, he also earned two Distinguished Flying Crosses, Bronze Star, 10 Air Medals, & decorations from China.

MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION: For conspicuous gallantry & intrepidity above & beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Oschersleben, Germany, on 11 January 1944. On that day Major Howard was the leader of a group of P-51 aircraft providing support for a heavy bomber formation on a long-range mission deep in enemy territory. As Major Howard’s group met the bombers in the target area the bomber force was attacked by numerous enemy fighters. Major Howard, with his group, at once engaged the enemy & himself destroyed a German ME 110. As a result of this attack he lost contact with his group & at once returned to the level of the bomber formation. He then saw that the bombers were being heavily attacked by enemy airplanes & that no other friendly fighters were at h&. While Major Howard could have waited to attempt to assemble his group before engaging the enemy, he chose instead to attack single-handed a formation of more than 30 German airplanes. With utter disregard for his own safety he immediately pressed determined attacks for some 30 minutes, during which time he destroyed 3 enemy airplanes & probably destroyed & damaged others. Toward the end of this engagement 3 of his guns went out of action & his fuel supply was becoming dangerously low. Despite these handicaps & the almost insurmountable odds against him, Major Howard continued his aggressive action in an attempt to protect the bombers from the numerous fighters. His skill, courage, & intrepidity on this occasion set an example of heroism which will be an inspiration to the U.S. Armed Forces.

Information courtesy of Air Force Historical Support Division